Chapter 200: Look at this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship—it's really something to envy

After the others were sent off, Xia Qiu scooted over to her mother-in-law: "Mom, Second Sister-in-law won't blame us for this, will she?"

Qiu Mu was afraid her daughter-in-law would overthink it and let it affect her mood.

She didn't bother greeting the other gossiping neighbors, and just pulled her inside: "What does this have to do with you? In the later stages of pregnancy, all sorts of symptoms are bound to show up. I reckon she stood in one position too long, that's how she threw out her back."

Right in front of her daughter-in-law, she swallowed the urge to say something like "serves her right": "Alright, stop overthinking. Even if she dares to think it, your great-grandmother wouldn't indulge her. If she hadn't stirred up trouble herself, none of this would've happened."

Xia Qiu was reassured now.

Qiu Mu patted her hand: "Since you've already eaten at your parents' place, I'll go fetch some water for you. Wash up and rest early—you've got to be careful in these first three months."

Honestly, before, she hadn't wanted her daughter-in-law to go back, afraid she wouldn't know her limits and would wear herself out. But her maiden family was building a new house, and her father had just come home from the hospital—it wouldn't sit right not to let her go. So she'd only been able to give her repeated instructions and warnings.

Now that she was back, finally within her sight, of course she had to look after her more.

Xia Qiu felt a bit embarrassed: "Mom, I can do it myself."

Qiu Mu waved her off: "Don't bother. Haven't you noticed the people in the yard haven't left yet? In a bit they'll grab you and start asking this and that. Just wait inside."

Sure enough, the moment Qiu Mu stepped out the door, someone asked: "Where's Xia Qiu?"

Qiu Mu waved her hand: "She got scared by all that commotion just now, so I told her to rest inside."

Everyone naturally already knew Xia Qiu was pregnant.

Though that was all thanks to Zhang Shanmei—Xia Qiu had originally planned to keep the pregnancy quiet for three months before telling anyone, but Zhang Shanmei's big mouth went and blabbed it out.

Hearing Qiu Mu say that, those who'd still wanted to pry into Xia Qiu's maiden family affairs gave up the idea. After all, she'd only just conceived—the pregnancy wasn't stable yet. If anything went wrong, they couldn't shoulder that responsibility.

Qiu Mu briskly crossed the yard to the kitchen, ladled hot water from the big pot into a basin, tested the temperature and found it too hot, added some cold water, and only then carried it back.

Seeing Qiu Mu carrying water for her daughter-in-law, someone laughed: "Shaofeng's wife really hit the jackpot finding a mother-in-law like you."

Qiu Mu was a frank and straightforward sort: "I'm the lucky one to have found a gentle-tempered daughter-in-law like Xia Qiu."

A neighbor she got along with laughed: "Look at this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship—it's really something to envy."

Someone picked up the thread: "A golden grandson they've been waiting for over half a year since the wedding—Qiufeng, as the mother-in-law, of course has to treasure her. This is the first grandson for the second branch. Being extra careful is only right."

"True, but Xia Qiu's the lucky one. Her maiden family had rough conditions before, and Zhang Shanmei didn't spare her any grief. But the moment she got pregnant, her maiden family's fortunes turned around."

"By that logic, it's not Xia Qiu who's lucky—it's the baby in her belly."

"That really is true."

Listening to the chatter outside, Qiu Mu's smile never left her face. She too felt the baby in Xia Qiu's belly was a lucky one—otherwise, how could it be that the moment Xia Qiu got pregnant, her maiden family not only split off to live on their own, but her younger sister also received a government award.

Well now, this one's a bit too smug—counting the Liu family's good fortune as belonging to her own future grandson or granddaughter.

Xia Qiu had just finished washing up when Qiu Shaofeng also came back.

Qiu Mu and Xia Qiu, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, spoke at the same time: "How did it go?"

(End of chapter)